A few words about Lobsang Rampa

If you’re under forty years of age, chances are the name Tuesday Lobsang Rampa won’t mean anything to you. But for some of us, in the second half of our lives, his name is redolent with powerful associations – positive and otherwise.

By way of a refresher, or for those of you who haven’t heard of him, here are a couple of excerpts from the Wikipedia entry for Lobsang Rampa:

Lobsang Rampais the pen name of an author who wrote books withparanormalandoccultthemes. His best known work isThe Third Eye, published in Britain in 1956.

Following the publication of the book, newspapers reported that Rampa wasCyril Henry Hoskin(8 April 1910 – 25 January 1981), a plumber fromPlymptoninDevonwho claimed that his body hosted the spirit of a Tibetanlamagoing by the name ofTuesday Lobsang Rampa, who is purported to have authored the books. The name Tuesday relates to a claim in The Third Eye that Tibetans are named after the day of the week on which they were born.

Later, the Wikipedia entry says:

Lobsang Rampa went on to write another 18 books containing a mixture of religious andoccultmaterial. One of the books, Living with the Lama, was described as being dictated to Rampa by his petSiamese cat, Mrs Fifi Greywhiskers. Faced with repeated accusations from the British press that he was acharlatanand acon artist, Rampa went to live in Canada in the 1960s. He and his wife, San Ra’ab, became Canadian citizens in 1973, along with Sheelagh Rouse (Buttercup) who was his secretary and regarded by Rampa as his adopted daughter.

What made Lobsang Rampa exceptional was the fact that he was one of very few Westerners writing popular books about Tibetan Buddhism – or his version of it at least – in the 1950s. There were other accounts of life in Tibet from adventurers such as Heinrich Harrer, whose Seven Years in Tibet, published in 1952, has sold well over 3 million copies. But Lobsang Rampa’s focus on personal spirituality, from a perspective that many Westerners had never come across, was absolutely riveting. This was why the books kept being reprinted through the sixties and seventies.

I remember encountering The Third Eye as a teenager – to me it was utterly absorbing. I hadn’t come across such mind-blowing ideas ever before! All I remember of the book now is that ‘opening’ the third eye, which Lobsang Rampa equated with achieving clairvoyance, involved a surgical procedure at the front of the skull. This idea is laughable now, but I remember being intrigued at the time. There was much that was magical and mystical, and in those pre-internet times, when hardly any Tibetan lamas had visited the West, it was a lot harder to find out if any of this stuff was actually true.

Quite recently I was in a library where I noticed a book by Lobsang Rampa. Taking it from the shelf, I sat down to read it for a while – my first encounter with the author since sitting at the feet of real Tibetan lamas. It was immediately apparent to me that the author didn’t embody the key teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. Not only did he relate stories that were simply unbelievable. As important was what he missed out, with no reference to some of the main teachings of the Dharma, such as the cultivation of bodhichitta. Who wants to read boring stuff about the importance of generosity, ethics and patience when you can go astral travelling instead?!

The curious thing is how much of a positive impact Lobsang Rampa made, despite the inauthenticity of his books. At a meditation retreat I went on earlier this year, a group of about half a dozen of us were having a ‘Milo Party’ at the end of the day. Sitting in subdued lighting in the evening, after another day of 7 hours on the cushion, someone asked the question, “What got you interested in Tibetan Buddhism in the first place?”

Each of us had our own story. But a very interesting point of consistency was: “Of course, I read some of those books by Lobsang Rampa which had made me curious …”

One by one, I discovered that each of my fellow meditators, just like me, had somehow found their way to his books, and had been just as engrossed by them as I had. It’s a curious and quite delightful paradox: whoever Lobsang Rampa was – and he was certainly no lama – and whatever his motivations, his books helped awaken many to a spiritual path which has become inexpressibly precious to us.

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About author

David Michie (David Michie)

Comments (63)

Brian O'Neil

This author gave me more inspiration than any one I had read. His talk about his cats was my favourite subject. The Hermit book was the best of the lot I believe, his sense of humour was second to none

David Michie Author

Helen

I remember reading Lobsang Rampa…eons ago. I never knew that he wrote under an alais. I really thought he was a monk..lol. And, the really strange thing is that I read them, cause I was from a “Strong Catholic Family” and absolutely no knowledge of Buddhism, except for watching “Kung Fu”…..Ah, grasshopper on rice paper!! Oh, the memories are flooding back.

David Michie Author

Sylvia Tolhurst

Perhaps his greatest legacy was opening our minds to other ‘realities’ when all around was great pressure on young people like me to conform to the status quo.
Only after retiring have I had time and energy to dip into metaphysical topics, several of which have taken me far beyond anything I thought I could understand. Which makes reading Nelson’s tale a delight, especially as I always shared that sense of purpose.

Robyn

I feel that, although Lobsang Rampa’s books aren’t authentic, they helped a lot of people onto the path of spirituality. Curiosity about what he wrote caused some to search further and I truly believe that this man was sent by The Universe for that very reason, even though his “teachings” have been revealed to be nothing like Buddhism. That was my experience of his books. Since then, I feel I’ve been heading in the right direction on the spiritual path, albeit with a long way still to go.

So, I say “thank you” to Lobsang Rampa for starting me on my journey so many decades past.

David Michie Author

Robyn

Neil Obstat

My mother gave me a copy of “Third Eye” as a gift when I was about 13 or so. Read several other books of his which finally sparked me into investigating meditation and eventually Buddhism. Which was why a stopped reading his books.

David Michie Author

Mike

I am a Buddhist after living in Thailand many years ago and reading many books on Buddhism in particular by Achaan Chah
I am over 65 and must say I’ve never heard of Lobsang Rampan
Is it worth reading them now ?

Jonin Marie-Claire

Scott Russell

I had already read ‘Seven Years in Tibet,’ (in the 1950s, in a small-town library in eastern Washington state – HURRAY for small-town libraries) when I came across ‘The Third Eye,’ so I knew a bit about life in Tibet, but T. Lobsang Rampa’s book fascinated me. No matter that the story was complete fantasy; it was what first got me interested in Buddhism.
(I have also read ‘The Dalai Lama’s Cat’ and ‘The Art of Purring.’)

David Michie Author

soh geok kee

I was absolutely fascinated by his books of which I read one or two – cant remmebr the titles now but it was so real to me when I read it and I was very curious as ti whether he had lived as a monk in Tibet in a past life!!!

Never got to verify that but your explanation throws some light on my quesyions. Thank you.

None the less his stories were so vivid and so believable – a good novelist.

With best regards

Geok

Cindy Bobolz

Hello David, I read “The Third Eye” at 17 and did my senior paper on it and other non-typical (at least for me) religions. I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian church and it was never a good fit for me. Too many questions that no one could give me answers for. But “The Third Eye” opened my eyes to a whole different belief system. Tibet has had a very special place in my heart ever since. As I matured and did a lot more reading I realized that “The Third Eye” was fantasy but it’s still one of my favorite books. I loved “Seven Years in Tibet” both the book and the movie. And have read all your books, David – love them too. Buddhist teachings form the basis of my “operating system” in my life. It was great that you bought up a voice from the past. Blessings to you.
Cindy

I have 7 of his books, collected from op shops over 30 years or so – he didn’t seem very enlightened, so I was very curious about who or what he really was, and how authentic or otherwise his stories were. I don’t have The Third Eye though, sadly.

Kaliela

I was raised open-minded spiritually, my mother would talk about and read Lobsangs books to me and discuss them with me as a child, I also read them again as a teen and early adulthood… the books are intriguing and open up so much intriguing aspects of then unknown Tibetan practise and mysteries..
I am now 38 and my mother and I are Christian in our Faith and life and love….
My mother set me upon a journey of intrigue into spiritualities which set me upon a path of seeking truth, Lobsangs books were and still are a welcome part of my journey.

Amelia

I have collected most of Lobsang Rampa’s books over the years. Even if he was a fake, he certainly sparked interest in philosophy and got me thinking deep stuff at an early age. For a plumber he certainly knew how to capture an audience!

Jane

We must be about the same age – because, like you, “The Third Eye” awakened my draw and fascination with Tibet and spiritual teaching. I was a late teenager at the time. Thanks for filling in the back story!

fer

Thank you and all the others that have been touched, for the kindness and warm feeling you communicate about that great soul of Tuesday Lobsang Rampa. I became amazed since my youth. No church can contain evolution or truth. Earth is a pretty much terrible and fascinating school. I am just a dumb student fascinated by lessons, teachers, the others
and life.
Thank you to be, David Michie.

Abdulmalik Amuta

Who and whatever Tuesday lopsang Rampa represent, certainly is without darkness but enlightenment. Just maybe we should read further deeper and just maybe Tuesday lopsang Rampa’s books are coded and meant only for those grounded in knowledge. I truly don’t believe they are fantasies. There is much more than the surface meaning we deduct from his books. Mark my words- someday in the near future, the truth would eventually come to light.

Rich

I discovered these books as a young man and became obsessed with them. Eventally I followed his instructions for Astral travel. After weeks, possibly months, it finally happened. To be honest, it scared the hell out of me and I decided it was not the path for me. But I know in my heart his words are true.

Argentina Rodriguez

As a child I read several books by Lobsang Rampa. They impacted my life in a unique way. I have always searched for the truth. My brother also read the books but I don’t know what happened to the books. I always remember what I learned but definitely it has been a positive impact.

Judy Smith

I read Third Eye decades ago, travelled and lived in Nepal and now India and just 3 days ago I was in Kathmandu and wandered into a bookshop to buy a copy of that wonderful and unbelievable book. What a touch of nostalgia. I agree it’s not very close to the mark on a lot of Buddhist things, but what a great story for us back then. And I’m enjoying it all over again. Made up, fantasy, rubbish? Does it matter? It helped us get to where we are 🙂

Thomas D. Lynas

Perhaps he wasn’t authentic but like Casteneda he seems to have been used by the universe to ‘kick-start’ a spirituallity that was sadly lacking in conventional religion. There is more to life and existence. Thank God for men and women who dare to think out of the box.

mtemba mzyece

i read you forever when i was 14 and my life changed forever just like the others i wouldn’t be on my on my spiritual path if it wasn’t for rampa he also had an impact on my pals here in zambia i was struck aback by his claim of taking over another body but i am now beginning to have a different outlook with many people claiming to be ‘walk-ins’ DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT ON “WALK-INS”?

Elizabeth Flint

Both “Seven Years in Tibet” by Harrer and “The Third Eye” by T. Lobsang Rampa were on a bookshelf in the living room when I was a child. I read both when I was about 10 or 11 – can’t remember which one I read first. I have since re-read Harrer’s book, but the old paperback copy of The Third Eye is long gone and I never revisited it. What stayed with me was a lifelong interest inTibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture. What a surprise to learn today that “Rampa” was an English plumber with an extremely idiosyncratic conception of Buddhism. And I was even more surprised to find out that one of his subsequent books was … er … transmitted via a Siamese cat! David, thank you for providing so much insight into the essence of Buddhism. Although I am not a Buddhist, I have the greatest respect for your spiritual tradition.

Vinura

Hey, I read “The third eye” when I was a kid and it was fascinating.We know that “hidden knowledge” is a vividly discussed topic in many cultures. Has anyone done a research on Lobsang Rampa’s history,by going to Tibet to find out the real truth? Anyway, whether truth or not, those books can spark our imagination and teach some possibilities that the human mind could achieve when it is in its pure form.Cheers!!!

Johann

A knowing old card, Mr. Hoskins was. And in his own sly way, something of a bodhisattva, yes? He started many on the road to delve deeper into Tibetan Buddhism. Once someone put down Alan Watts, who had his faults, in the presence of Suzuki roshi. Suzuki sternly objected, saying that Watts was in his own way indeed a bodhisattva. Things aren’t always what they seem.

Raymond Warner

Interested in 2 letters signed by Tuesday Lobsang Rampa? Both are type written one is hand signed the other type signed, both originated from England where he lived. both are addressed to 2 women who wrote to him and both contain information associated with the sincerity of his enigma . One is addressed to author Dana Howard , the other a lady from Berkeley,Ca.To the best of my knowledge they are authentic.I ant place a monetary value on these letters Im only guessing as to their current value.

Rodney Derbyshire

Hi David
I too was an avid fan of Lobsang,still am,I bought all his books as they were released.Istill have them I receive newsletter from author Michael J Roads and he recently admitted that Lobang Rampa was the one who started him on his journey.I don’t know if you are aware but all his books are free on the Internet.
Best wishes
Rod.

Renata

Hello David!
The book below might be of your interest:
‘Twenty Five Years with T. Lobsang Rampa’

A book written by his secretary. I have started reading Rampa when I was 25, now 27- killed a few books and am eagerly researching about him and managed to find this book.
Hope it is something new to you too.

Raymond Warner

I have in my possession 2 letters by TLRampa author written from London;Ialso have 2 letters from 2 women whom he answered and a time magazine article on Rampa. One of these letters is to Dana Howard author asf. I deemed these items to be of collective fan club value if any one is interested I’ll put them up for sale.These letters are type written one is hand signed the other isn’t. They all seem authentic so I’m guessing as to interest and value.

Ray Warner

Sharon Gallup

i know Tuesday Lobsang Rampa died in Calgary, Alberta. i would like to know if he was also buried there and if a person could go pay homage to his grave. i have valued all his books for over 45 years and have read all of his books.

anticlea cloete

I read the first book by Lobsang Rampa at the age of 14years in a little town in the then Rhodesia. It opened my eyes to a fifty year journey of discovering (uncovering) searching , learning of all the philosophies in over thirty different countries and cultures. It was and still is an amazing journey as every day is another day of magical discovery , sharing, caring , and living . Thank you Lobsang for making me ‘think’ in a era of dogma and blinkered perception. I will always be grateful for the coincidence of one book ..

jerry uwake

Message TLR remains indelible in my mind. He was extra ordinary. Whatever negative thing is revealed about him now is too late and of no significance. His books helped those who were interested and embraced them.

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